AMHERST — New Amherst, Pelham and Amherst Regional Schools Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman sees a student-centered approach to education, including leading with love, as bringing the school district stability following a period of tumult, caused in part by allegations of gender-based bullying at the middle school.

“I’m a champion for the children of the districts,” Herman says. “I put them first.”

As Herman enters her fourth week on the job, coming to Amherst from her time serving as insular (island) superintendent of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Education, she anticipates she and her leadership team will look at everything through a student-centered lens.

“Everyone wants me to be successful,” Herman said, speaking from her office at the middle school this week. “This is not a challenge, but an opportunity.”

Preferring to be addressed as “Dr. Xi,” Herman will earn $176,500 in the first year of three years, coming to a school district that in 2023 was rocked by reports that middle school counselors intentionally misgendered some students and didn’t intervene when there was reported mistreatment of LGBTQ students at the middle school. That led to Title IX and associated investigative reports revealing what had occurred.

Herman said that procedures and guidelines for dealing with and preventing bullying, and promoting a positive learning environment, are in place or being developed and that she wants the district to remain compliant with all state rules and regulations.

“I take student safety very seriously,” Herman said.

Herman is stepping into the role after Finance Director Douglas Slaughter led the district on an interim basis since last August when Michael Morris resigned after being an interim and permanent superintendent since 2016. Herman brings 17 years of experience in education, including as a paraeducator, classroom teacher, district director and deputy superintendent.

“It’s going to take time, but I have a year to delve in, be present and be accessible and be vigilant, while also being visible,” Herman said.

In addition to student safety, other priorities are data and accountability and healing and stability.

Part of her acclimation to Amherst has been meeting with families, finding they are dedicated to learning.

“Everyone is about student outcomes,” Herman said.

She will also be seeking input through surveys and student and parent focus groups, and working to better understand the communities she is serving.

She’s still in the process of putting together those who will be part of her central office team, recently bringing in Nyby Douglas as her executive assistant. Central office staff, which had included an assistant superintendent, has been depleted, in part due to budget cuts.

When applying for the job, Herman drafted a 100-day entry plan in which she said she would lead in an open and transparent manner and examine the district with both qualitative and quantitative measures. Herman has begun her tenure by talking to principals and others in leadership at the four Amherst and Pelham elementary schools, and the regional middle and high schools, finding out how each is, as she put it, “aligning purposes and passions in the same direction.”

Since arriving in town, Herman has also met with Town Manager Paul Bockelman and his team twice, spoken with town department heads, including the police and fire chiefs, and members of the Amherst Town Council, and a Pelham finance official. She intends to speak with Shutesbury and Leverett officials, after already chatting with Shannon White-Cleveland, the new Union 28 superintendent, to better understand consistency as students arrive from those towns for seventh grade.

Herman also has to keep the district running and preparing for the new school year that begins in a little over a month.

“For me, I’m trying to get a fairly comprehensive picture of not only where we are, but where we want to be,” Herman said.

She will be hosting parent forums in August and will be part of the annual welcome back event in late August.

More communication will be directed at the public, as she feels an aspect lacking has been regularly publicizing the successes of the students and teachers. A climate and media specialist could be proactive to share the schools’ narrative and rebuild bridges.

“If at the end of the year we have improved communication, then we’ve done a lot,” Herman said.

Herman said she is also looking at whether an equity coach is needed. “I believe equity is woven into the practices of the district,” Herman said.

There are ongoing challenges of crafting an annual budget, with 80% to 90% of any district’s spending being on salaries. What tradeoffs and programs are willing to be lost will be a question asked, or can programs be built and maintained through other funding sources? She appreciates the need for a deeper budget analysis and potential streamlining.

Coming from a district with more than 5,000 students, Herman said Amherst is smaller, but facing many of the same things she has dealt with.

“There are a lot of things in progress here that I’ve lived through,” Herman said. “It’s manageable.”

And when she speaks of opportunity, part of the appeal of what drew her is being situated close to the University of Massachusetts and the four private colleges.

“What makes this such a great opportunity is there are resources with the Five Colleges,” Herman said. “There are opportunities to build and improve and push forward.”

On education, the district could be creating pathways for all students, not just for those who may be in AP classes. “We are committed to giving students here the best educational system,” Herman said.

Another area of focus is the future 6th Grade Academy, where sixth graders at the Amherst’s three elementary schools will move to the middle school no later than fall 2026, when the new 575, K-5 school opens at the Fort River site. But that may have to happen sooner due to the Fort River School, where the dual language English and Spanish program is run, being tight on space.

Herman, who has moved to town, is committed to being present and working for the children and would like Amherst schools to become the pinnacle of educational systems in Massachusetts, or at least western Massachusetts.

“We can tell our own story and all we offer,” Herman said.

Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.